Whole Fitness

Pilates Review - S Factor

2009-09-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

Alright ladies, we've all heard about these Strip Classes, you know, the one where you are flying around a pole and otherwise acting like a stripper, right? Well, I tried one out and it was AWESOME.

I went to Sheila Kelly's S Factor at 23rd street in Manhattan for my introductory class. Front desk was helpful and sweet, space is big but intimate and the locker rooms were great.

I think all of us were pretty nervous, not really knowing what to expect, especially because the front waiting area is filled with stripper clothes, poles, large heels and other things most of our men would appreciate. We were escorted into a room where our class was to take place and it was dead silent until our teacher came in.

This was a 2 hour intro class and our teacher spent the first 20 minutes introducing herself to everyone, asking about injuries and making corny jokes. I have to admit I got a little impatient through this, but then we started the workout. There are a couple of things to note about S Factor: no men are allowed and the lights are turned DOWN LOW during the class. It was really helpful to get "in the mood" and also to let go a little. If the lights were up I definitely wouldn't have gotten into it as much. Our teacher was great at promoting our sexuality and congratulating us and spurring us on.

The mat workout was hard, then we took a break and started on the pole! She taught us one spin move around the pole. I don't think I fully got it, but some people did and the spirit in the room was awesome - we were hollering and whooping as each of us walked sexily up to the pole and swung around it. It was really fun.

At the end of class our instructor showed us a routine that was very advanced and IMPRESSIVE! She was out of breath by the end of it and it totally made me want to work as hard as possible to get there someday.

I'll definitely go back and I think it did a lot for my own body image and feeling more confident in this body I got.

Go take this class!!!

Pilates Review - Kinected

2009-09-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

Continuing with my Pilates Passbook, I went to an equipment class at Kinected which is apparently running the Kane School's classes now. I was really excited to take a Kane class as I've heard great things about them, their training and their teachers.

The studio was easy to find and a beautiful space, nice and open with lots of light. Unfortunately my first experience was with someone at the front desk who informed me that I wasn't allowed to take an equipment class - they are honoring the Passbook for the Kane School, but it was only for Mat. No where in the Passbook does it say you can only take a mat class, so I had to fight them on it (plus I called and they should have told me then, rather than make me come in and then try to refuse me). He checked with the manager and finally he said it was ok - just this time - and then continued to be snotty and threw my pass back at me. So, I wasn't looking forward to the class, neeedless to say.

BUT! The class was great. It was an hour and a half equipment class with Matt. He was a very smart teacher, great use of the reformer, barrel, wunda chair and tower. I was super sore afterwards and he paid great attention to us all.

Barring a snobby front desk, I would highly recommend taking a class with Matt.

Pilates Review - Kinespirit

2009-08-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

Just returned from my first trip to Kinespirit at their Madison Park location. And I have only good things to say. At Kinespirit, you can take pilates, but I took a Gyrokinesis class.

It is similar to Pilates in control, breath, range of motion and balance. Unlike (some) Pilates, there is a flow so you keep moving (seriously) the whole time. Takes a good amount of coordination and mind-body awareness - and is ultimately really fun. Lots of circling and moving through a neutral (or fully extended back) and a tucked under position. Gyrotonic is done on a tower, while in Gyrokinesis you are working on a stool and a mat.

Great front desk, beautiful studio and seemingly nice clientele. I took Tuesday's 12:30 open Gryokinesis class. Unfortunately I forget the teachers name - but she was great.

This is my first Gyro class and I loved it - it sneaks up on your how difficult it really is. It feels like a combination of Yoga and Pilates in a way that doesn't make sense until you do it.

Definitely check out Kinespirit!

NYTimes Article about the Abs

2009-08-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reaction to this article. I think overall it's right to say that just strengthening your abs with reckless abandon (no pun intended) isn't the way to a healthy back. What it doesn't go into is the different positions your pelvis and spine should be in to promote healthy backs.

Many with herniated disks and other back problems should NEVER tuck their pelvis to do ab work. When many of us do sit-ups, our spine is flexed at the top (when you bring your head, neck and shoulders off the ground) as well as the bottom, meaning your back is flat against the ground and your pelvis is tucked under. This works your Rectus Abdomnis (the 6-pack muscle), which is all fine and good, but continued ab work in this position will not work for people with back issues (there are always exceptions to the rule on this, so work with your pilates instructor or physical therapist to find out what's right for you).

A Neutral positioning of the pelvis is a much better position for BOTH ab strengthening as well back strengthening. This allows the spine to stay in the right position (which will protect your back) while you are working the abs (most specifically the Transverse Abdominus).

Link to article: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/core-myths/?em

Pilates Review - 2nd re:AB review = not great

2009-06-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

Sat 6/27 at 5:55pm
(reposted from my facebook - look me up!)

My second class at re:AB was MUCH less than satisfactory - which is a bummer, because I really liked my first class and the studio.

This time, I was at re:AB for an Intermediate Master Class billed: "Come work with a master! Our master instructor, Cary Regan will help you deepen your understanding of the Pilates matwork. After 25 years of teaching she has found fun and fresh variations that help to hone your form and dig deeper into the powerhouse."

I did not find this to be the case. I found this master teacher abrasive, unwelcoming, and not concerned with her students growth.

She was openly hostile in a "joking" way with her students, which seemed to work for them as they laughed nervously each time she singled one of them out, but I saw it as berating. She would ridicule people individually for not doing something right. It wasn't fun to watch her to this to other as I kept wondering when I was going to be on the chopping block. She wore jeans and a t-shirt, didn't take her shoes off and walked over the mat's of the towers like she didn't care.

I was excited to learn from another Master, eager to be exposed to new movements and ideas, but was completely disappointed. I'm glad I had a pass and didn't have to shell out the full price. Not to mention the classes at re:AB are only 45 minutes - so she spent at least 15 minutes of the class talking and not paying attention to what I was doing.

When she did, she forced me into positions I shouldn't have gone into (but she didn't know that because she didn't ask me if I had any injuries before class even though I was obviously new to her class).

The repertoire itself wasn't that great. It did not seem thought out, there didn't seem to be a plan. It was a beginner's class at best and her professionalism left much to be desired. It didn't deepen my understanding of Pilates, it was not fun, fresh and was overly a disappointing experience.

Pilates Review - re:AB Pilates NYC

2009-06-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 1:03pm
(this is reposted from my facebook account - look me up!)

This Saturday I took a class at re:AB Pilates at 33 Bleecker Street in downtown Manhattan. In an unsuspecting loft (which I passed by and had to double back) is a beautiful studio. I arrived and walked in, signed a couple of sheets, and then proceeded to the locker room to change.

Some great things right away:
1 - they gave me a lock to lock my things up. So nice not to have to bring my own - or have to pay for one
2 - the studio is really beautiful and my experience with the front desk was nice, not over the top nice, but good

The whole place is a bit of a maze, I wish there were better signs so I didn't feel lost - but I made it to the locker room, which was also beautiful - but it's also a bit of a maze. The toilet is separate from the locker room as is the shower (divided by a curtain.

I came out into the front class area. The class I took (9:15am on Saturday) was in a room with about 8-10 Wall units with raised mats (like this one)

Our Instructor, Stacey, was great - introduced herself, asked new people if they had any injuries and quickly got to work. It was a simple workout - as the class was beginner-intermediate - but her pace was great. We moved through traditional mat work (100's, rolling like a ball, the 5's) and then worked through the leg series, finishing with Pilates pushups.

All in all 4/5 stars!

Definitely check out re:AB pilates: http://www.reabnyc.com/

Welcome

2009-06-29T06:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Pilates blog. This will be a place where I can comment on news items, make reviews of studios I attend and other musing's on the Pilates industry.